Well, I didn't even know that Diouf was still playing. As someone who doesn't follow the Premier League closely, I consider Diouf someone who played a good torunament in 2002, never to be heard of again since then.
So in your estimation, germany's all time XI starter is probably not an all-timer? The answer to the question should be a yes because it's not Klose anyway. Rummenigge (you know, best player in the world in the early 80s, before Maradona) Seeler, Voeller, Klinsmann would, and it's likely that Fischer and Heynckes would also be there before Klose. In Fischer's case he was around at the same time as Mueller, but he's the second most prolific scorer in the Bundesliga and had 32 goals in 45 national team games. Heynckes is 3rd all-time bundesliga scorer and in the top 5 european club competition goalscorers.
I said Klose wasn't an all-timer at club and int'l level, just at int'l level. Having been called out on this twice, I concede the point. I didn't see any of these others play and have only heard about them. Thus, I threw out Klose name considering he is tied for number two on the all-time World Cup scoring chart. But I realize now that I forget some of the greats...Point well taken...Klose shouldn't be in the Germany all-time XI, but I would say he is a all-timer in German int'l football...
I think you're specifically talking about last season but I'm talking overall of Forlan's time there at Atletico. Yes Maxi was pretty bad at the end but when Forlan first arrived he was captain and he still scored goals and contribuited. Simao was inconsistent last season but he hasn't been a bad player for them since joining. Yes Perea is horrible. My point was that Forlan has been able to perform very well for a side when he isn't the sole focal point for everything which is what the other poster was claiming.
Actually, I'd say it's quite the opposite. Forlán has been able to perform very well through solo super-heroics, in spite of having a mess of a self-destructive side.
Blanco was for sure one of the guys to remember! hehe... I still would say Suarez and Forlan. And don't to forget Muller from Germany!
I really wonder why people think Diouf had such a good 2002 WC. I personally don't remember him standing out. Senegal did well and played some good football (epitomized by their goal against Denmark) but I don't remember thinking that Diouf was particularly outstanding. He was decent, he didn't even score a single goal in the entire tournament, so for a striker it's hardly amazing.
Conen better than Klose? He only starred in '34. You could make a case for Rahn being better than Klose. At least he won a World Cup and scored two in the 1954 final.
boy thats a tough one, no one really stands out. Only David Villa really stands out [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BQDDIrZeH4"]YouTube- World Cup Look Back.avi[/ame] Great video
No need to "make a case", Helmut Rahn was an unbelievable player and one of the most underrated footballers in history.
He got some publicity - he made the all-star team after all, and made Pelé's list of the "Greatest Living Football Players" after the WC. Now, if this was deserved is another question, but at least he was perceived as a star player for some time.
Conen's career was cut short due to illness and war, but I see no reason to doubt, that he was a much more outstanding player than Klose. Klose is a decent player, but hardly a legendary figure.
This year Cachabacha became a legend, winning both the Europa League with los Colchoneros and being the best player in the WC.
I think the only one that can be consider a world all-timer in his position is Casillas. His record is awesome. For sure he is one of the best GK ever, if not the best. He is already in the status of the likes of Zoff or Yashin. And he is still relatively young for a GK. He has time to be in another Euro and World Cup, and he will beat Zubizarreta as Spain most capped player. Other players like Klose, Forlan or Xavi are great players, but I do not think that they might be considered as the best in their position ever. I do not think Klose and Forlan are in the same status as Pele, Ronaldo (the brazilian, of course) or Mueller. Or Xavi as the likes of Beckenbauer or Cruyff. AWESOME.